The original purpose of Fort Sumter was to serve as a defensive fortification to protect Charleston Harbor and the city of Charleston, South Carolina.

The original purpose of Fort Sumter was to protect Charleston Harbor and the city of Charleston, South Carolina. Constructed in the early 19th century, the fort was strategically located on an island to guard the harbor against potential naval attacks. Its design included heavy fortifications and was part of a broader coastal defense strategy. As tensions rose leading up to the Civil War, Fort Sumter became a focal point for conflict, ultimately serving as the site of the war's first shots in April 1861. This historical significance has since made Fort Sumter a symbol of the struggle for control in the Civil War.